photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Change It Up by Stephanie Nickel
There’s an old saying that goes like this:
A change is as good as a rest.
There are a number of reasons to change up your exercise routine. Here are a few of them:
Alleviate Boredom
No matter how much you enjoy an exercise routine or physical activity, it’s great to try something new. If you have a few favourites, you can alternate between them and minimize the possibility of getting bored. Boredom often leads to making excuses for putting off the activity.
Surprise Your Muscles
If muscles could yawn, that’s exactly what they’d do if you never change up your routine. When you try something new, think of them as saying, “Hey, we better buckle down and get it right; we’ve never done this before.”
Push Past the Plateau
If you do the same thing week after week after week, you may very well hit a plateau. Your muscles don’t seem to be changing and you’ve stopped losing weight (if that is, in fact, your aim). But when your muscles buckle down and work hard, you will likely start to see results again.
Wake Up Neglected Muscles
Even a good full-body workout won’t likely target all your muscles. All squats, for instance, work hamstrings and quadriceps. However, if you take a wider than shoulder-width stance and turn your toes out, that squat now works hamstrings, quadriceps, and the adductor muscles of your inner thigh.
Keep It Fun
There are people who claim to hate all forms of exercise. However, the case may simply be that they haven’t come across the routine or activity that’s right for them. If you are one of those people—or if your current exercise is no longer fun—it may be time for a change.
Renew Your Enthusiasm
When you laced up your first pair of skates or attended that first group exercise class, you may have had a blast. Maybe you’re not as enthusiastic about it as you once were, for whatever reason. How about skiing or hiking? How about a different class? Find something you look forward to; it makes it a lot harder to come up with excuses not to go.
Gain a Sense of Accomplishment
Truth . . . you may never be a real fan of exercise, but when you get to the end of the workout and know you’ve done something good for yourself, there’s a real sense of accomplishment. And when you nail a brand new routine, that feeling is even greater.
Set a Good Example
Because a new routine can result in change—physically, mentally, and emotionally—we can set a good example for onlookers. Our spouse, our children, our friends, and our co-workers may very well benefit when we set a good example. And without saying a word, we may encourage them to give physical activity a try. Just think . . . you may be instrumental is helping them live a happier, healthier lifestyle just by changing up your exercise routine. Cool!
Tweetable
A change in your exercise routine is even better than a rest. (tweet this)
Other articles by Stephanie
6 Ways to Intensify your Workout
Want more articles by Stephanie?
Click the image below to access the collection
of over 60 links to health and wellness articles.
Steph Beth Nickel is an author, a freelance editor and writer, a labour doula, and a former personal trainer. She’d love to connect with you on Facebook or Twitter, on her website or blog.